Leger Creates an Artificial Intelligence Scientific Committee 

20 January 2026

Leger, the largest Canadian-owned polling, marketing research, and analytics firm, announced today the creation of its Artificial Intelligence Scientific Committee. This marks an important milestone in Leger’s evolution of its approach to AI. Through this initiative, Leger reaffirms its commitment to the rigorous, thoughtful, and responsible use of AI. 

Composed of internationally recognized experts, Leger’s AI Scientific Committee will support the organization in its reflections and decisions related to artificial intelligence. The committee will inform, challenge, and guide Leger’s AI-related decisions. Acting as an external advisory body, the committee will ensure that AI initiatives remain relevant and aligned with industry best practices. 

An AI Scientific Committee as a Cornerstone of Leger’s Approach 

Committee members will provide critical and constructive input on ongoing projects, contribute to strategic thinking, and support the development of internal capabilities.  

“Surrounding ourselves with independent experts is essential to fully understand both local and global challenges and making informed decisions,” said Sarah Mottet, Vice President, Transformation and AI at Leger. “This committee will help us structure and optimize our use of AI in a thoughtful, methodical and practical way, while remaining fully aligned with our mission.” 

Chaired by Jacques Nantel, Professor Emeritus at HEC Montréal, the committee brings together specialists from academia, research and technological innovation.  

Jacques Nantel
Maxime Cohen
Ray Poynter
Sarah Mjidou
Jacques Nantel
Professor Emeritus, HEC Montréal, Canada
Maxime Cohen
Professor and Chairholder, Scale AI Research Chair, McGill University, Canada
Ray Poynter
Co-Founder, Research Wise AI; Founder, NewMR, United Kingdom
Sarah Mjidou
President and Founder, ALNIXIA, Canada
Dharmendra Jain
Jean-Marc Léger
Sarah Mottet
Dharmendra Jain
President, Actnable AI, Kenya
Jean-Marc Léger
President and Founder, Leger, Canada
Sarah Mottet
Vice President, Transformation and AI, Leger, Canada

Artificial Intelligence, Guided by the Science of People 

At Leger, artificial intelligence is first and foremost a means of amplifying the strengths that have defined the firm for decades: the most reliable data in the market, recognized expertise, and a unique ability to understand the world around us. We use AI to strengthen human expertise by enabling faster, large-scale analysis without ever replacing human reasoning or judgment.  

Instead, AI frees up analysts’ time for essential tasks such as interpretation, insight generation, and transforming data into actionable insights, all while maintaining strict methodological rigor. 

“Artificial intelligence does not replace human intelligence; it strengthens it,” said Jean-Marc Léger, CEO and Founder of Leger. “Our objective is clear: to integrate AI in a way that improves our offerings without compromising the rigor and excellence that define our reputation.” 

For Leger, AI is not just an abstract promise. It is grounded in two pillars: high-quality data and proven expertise. With its unmatched panel of more than 320 professionals, Leger believes it has the foundation necessary to develop useful, reliable, and applicable AI-powered solutions. 

Ultimately, Leger believes that artificial intelligence is most effective when guided by human intelligence. 

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